2003 Glastron VP 5.0 GL Overheat issue

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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New Amazon junk is just not of any quality. Stock GM marine pumps (what Volvo and Mercruiser use) is about $80
 

i_build

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Apr 24, 2005
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Here's that piece of garbage. Seller Anrain and it is no longer available. Take heed of the photo... chances are this snake is selling as another seller. 1756422640535.png
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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. I will get the sellers info and share as well as send some complaints there way as well as to Amazon. JUNK!!!!
Bashing vendors is frowned upon. Simply avoid amazon
 

ESGWheel

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Here are some of my go to places for VP OEM
  • Doug Russel Marine link
  • Leaders RPM link
  • Cecil Marine link > Cecil also sells Barr
  • Other places that folks have had positive success with is Marine Parts Express link
  • And of course, the OEM themselves: Volvo Penta Shop
And someone I and others have delt with re: RWPs is a nice gent on eBay that rebuilds them. Raw Pumps LLC link
 

i_build

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Odd thing is that visually it looks ok was expecting to see pieces of the impeller. There are some small nicks at the end of the impeller and after disassembly of both the VP seems to have a gasket seal and the Amazon one uses an O-Ring... but oddly enough the amazon one looks like it should have produced something. Here are pics of both the VP bearing also would need to be replaced for reuse but the housing on the vp internally doesn't look to impressive. Sorry I wasn't aware that we shouldn't name bad vendors will not do that again.Amazon Pump.jpgVP Pump1.jpgVP Pump2.jpg
 

Lou C

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I have bought OMC parts from this vendor on Amazon, that's about the only one I'd trust, and only when I can't get it locally.
I have a local marine shop I go to and he can order OEM Merc, OMC or Volvo parts plus he can get me Barr exhaust, Deka batteries, etc. And because I go there a lot he gives me a discount! It's good to patronize local shops because they can be helpful in other ways, they will know good fiberglass guys, painters, upholstery guys, etc for stuff you can't do yourself.
 

i_build

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If you look at the knock off housing that vendor sold you can see the inlets are sharp. Compared to the VP housing which is rounded. You can see that a 30hr impeller in that housing was more chewed up than the original VP impeller. The VP Impeller also has differences as far as the center bushing, I purchased OE and rebuilt the VP one. I even tried to put the VP outer housing on the knock off and it wont fit... makes you wonder what would have happened if I put the VP impeller in that housing... Like everyone mentioned stick with OE for this.
 

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i_build

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Confirmed. Before I switched back to my VP rebuilt pump 15 mins on the hose 175* and climbing now 1 hour 160* and the manifolds both at around 108* at the risers and manifold. I will be swapping the gaskets to the risers and using the new procedures but thankfully I have some time to budget for the Barr Mani and risers. I will sway away from any critical parts on Amazon... Thank you all.
 

Lou C

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So far then we see your top hot exhaust system was low raw water flow!
 

Donald0039

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Keep in mind there is a seal and a bearing in the raw water pump. The seal should be replaced. It's pretty easy to replace. There is bearing also. Harder to replace than the seal but doable.

In one of the pics the seal looks rusty. The rust is from the spring that part of the seal. I will bet the seal is not soft rubber anymore but hard rubber and only doing a marginal job of sealing.
 

i_build

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Thanks Don, yes I replaced both the seal and that bearing. That bearing was hard to get out I actually used a pilot bearing puller and had to use my press to push the puller from the opposite side of the housing... but it was done and she seems happy... will swap the mani to riser gaskets today and hopefully go fishing this weekend with the family after a sea trial. Yes Lou it was starving for water. Glad she looks sorted now... hopefully no surprises when I install those gaskets.. but she was rock steady at the temp guage and I had seen her get a 5* hotter than normal with that new Amazon pump off and on till it finally bit the bullet... I'm guessing that someone could port the inlets on that Amazon pump but even when I tried to put the VP outer housing on and it didn't fit... I questioned whether the replacement was really an exact size as well.. the base of the Amazon water pump seems to be a few mm larger than the original VP... and that would (I think)... potentially have an impact even if you were to put the VP impeller in it (not to mention its a shredder as well with those sharp edges). Lesson learned stick with OE.
 

Lou C

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23 years with an OMC Cobra and always used OEM impellers/housings and bellows and not one problem with either. In fact the OEM bellows last in excess of 10 years! Impellers I usually change every 3 seasons.
 

i_build

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Wish I knew that about the bellows... those were changed at the start of this season I used Sierra though for those hopefully that is decent.
 

i_build

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They dont look new but The Anna Capri and Stamas I owned was worse. I think I can get to the end of the season with this... if Only 1BOLT didn't snap. I still have about 1/4" or little less of threads extending out from the manifold. It was drenched with PB Blaster overnight but this one wouldn't budge. Before I clamp the VG on the end and give it a go should I heat the bolt up with a torch or the mani around that hole or any other suggestions other than an EZ Out cause I think there is enough meat on it showing for me to get a couple last chances with VGs but I want to make sure I do all I can before I try with the vice grips. Please advise. Thanks. You can see the bolt sticking up out of the mani in the pic. All others backed out no problems... that one had to be the stickler. Any tips appreciated. Thanks again.
 

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Lou C

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They don't look clogged, the main thing is you can't really tell if they will seal until you re-surface the sealing surfaces and measure them for flatness with a straight edge and feeler gauges (less than .003" variation). For the busted bolt stub, try heating the area around it and see if that helps get it out. Don't heat the bolt, just where it's screwed into on the mani. You want that area to expand slightly. These jobs are always tricky, not sure if the vise grips is the best plan, maybe cut a slot in it and use an impact screwdriver instead. I have never found vise grips to help with removing the remains of stuck bolts. Heat + patience.
Then, get thread chasers and really clean all those threads out. Not a tap, but thread chasers. I used them when I had to replace the cyl heads on my old 4.3. It took a fair amount of time to make sure all the bolts would thread in right. Thread chaser, bit'o carb cleaner and compressed air...wear goggles of course.
 
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kd4pbs

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If that were mine, I'd MIG weld a nut to what's left. The heat from welding also helps with freeing the stuckness many times.
No welder? Find a friend with one. Otherwise, lots of praying and heat as Lou mentioned is your best bet.
 

i_build

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Got it with the torch and vice grips just have to source new bolts and chase the threads and use anti seize which apparently was left out last time the po had them off if ever. Thanks
 

Lou C

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If you ever have to do this job again, try heating the areas on the manifold where the bolts thread in before even trying to loosen them, or just run the motor on the water hose, let it get hot, then (carefully!) drain the manifold, and go at it. Running it will heat the area around the bolts, although with a good cooling system, only to about 100-110*F if the engine is idling.
 

i_build

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Thanks Lou was thinking that would have been a smart thing to do. Looks like after all the old gasket is off it seems to look level but I'll get a straight edge and feeler gauge out to make sure before reinstalling. Problem I have now is I can't find just replacement bolts anywhere. I know someone has to have them.
 

i_build

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I have a bolt and fastener store near me Tri City bolts and fasteners. I'll bring them a bolt tomorrow and hope they have it.
 
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